My Position on the 2016 Presidential Election Part 5: My Feelings on Trump

He is not and has never been a conservative. He has been taught how to say conservative things. He’s an ignorant clown on his own. I wasn’t at all surprised when his campaign took away his access to his own Twitter account to prevent him from hurting his own campaign in the last two days before the election. He does not believe in the Rule of Law and has no regard for the sanctity of life. I actually agree with what President Obama said yesterday: “In the last two days, they had so little confidence in his self-control, they said: ‘We’re just going to take away your Twitter.’ Now, if somebody can’t handle a Twitter account, they can’t handle the nuclear code.”

He embodies the Greek definition of a “tyrant” (“The word tyrannos, possibly pre-Greek, Pelasgian or eastern in origin, then carried no ethical censure; it simply referred to anyone, good or bad, who obtained executive power in a polis by unconventional means.” Wikipedia. They believed a tyrant was anyone who’s authority was illegitimate, regardless of how you felt about their actions and decisions.) Even in his pretended conservative role as the Republican nominee, he still advocates policies that would inflate the executive branch. He just says it will be ok because he will expand his authority only on good issues. He has no concept of what makes something “constitutional.” He didn’t even know how many articles it contains the last time I heard him talk about how much he “loves” it.

He is the poster child of narcissism and arrogance. Many vie for Trump, saying that his business experience will save our economy. Let me say this once. I do not want our country run the way his businesses are run. Everything about his brand and name screams vanity and pride. Additionally, for him to claim the ability to fix the economy/our the national debt demonstrates that he is ignorant of the Constitution on at least two fronts. He doesn’t recognize that leaving the private sector alone is not only the best way to help the economy, but the President has NO business meddling with the economy. The Constitution forbids him that power. Also, the responsibility of handling the budget belongs to Congress. The President can only recommend legislation to Congress.

His foreign policy is actually one of my most serious strictly “political” concerns. I believe his relationships and loyalties betray the image of conservativism he pretends to uphold. He praises and would honor socialist policies and legislation. I want a President who refuses to do things he believes are good because he knows he doesn’t have the power to do it, just like Davey Crockett. Feel free to ask me about his story–it’s one of my favorites.

I wholeheartedly agree with the recent National Review article that explained why it is critical that we conservatives vote independent to show the nation that we won’t accept just anybody as our Republican nominee. They said, “In other words, a vote for Trump is a vote to send conservatism into exile…. It is vitally important that Trump underperform versus truly conservative candidates. Conservative senators should receive a greater share of the vote than Trump” (“Reject Them Both—It’s the Practical Choice”, National Review, November 7, 2016)

I’ve heard some people say that “it’s better to vote for Trump than a guaranteed failure.” They say, “Hillary is a murderous, lying, treasonous woman. But Trump is a clean slate politically. He could turn out to be a great President.” I don’t find that gamble thrilling. I actually consider it ignorant and empty. Trump has already failed to qualify in almost every way possible, with the exception of being at least 35 years old and other Constitutional technicalities pertaining to his citizenship status––the same way most Americans will qualify without any effort.

Trump has lived a life filled with vile habits, vain ambition, and pompous arrogance. He is honestly among the crowd I would deem most unqualified to lead the free world. For me to vote for him would be deriding the land I call Promised and Sacred. The “conservative” response to his recent immoral video leak has been bizarre. Some have said, “That was so long ago! He has changed a lot since then!” I believe character is put to the test when someone is challenged or caught in a situation like this. Trump was not sorry he did it, and he almost didn’t even seem sorry he got caught. He was sorry “if anyone was offended.” There was absolutely no repentant, godly sorrow. In fact, his response seemed flippant, like he was suddenly very inconvenienced. His knee-jerk reaction to attack is to be exactly that, a jerk. His first response was justification:

This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course — not even close.

Actually, this was the very first time he apologized during his campaign for anything. What disappoints me most about the recent Trump audio leak is not how crude it was, but rather, how long it took so many people to recognize the thick filth the man has chosen to coat his soul in. Any Trump supporter who was shocked by this tape has fallen as an intellectual victim of the same press industry they are so quick to condemn.

I greatly appreciate the articulate commentary on this tape that was published in the recent Deseret News opinion article, “In our opinion: Donald Trump Should Resign His Presidency”:

What oozes from this audio is evil. We hear a married man give smooth, smug and self-congratulatory permission to his intense impulses, allowing them to outweigh the most modest sense of decency, fidelity and commitment. And although it speaks volumes about sexual morality, it goes to the heart of all ethical behavior. Trump’s banter belies a willingness to use and discard other human beings at will. That characteristic is the essence of a despot…. In the face of these revelations, it is disheartening to see otherwise decent individuals now attempting to defend Trump’s talk, dismissing it as mere “locker room” bravado. At the time of the audio recording, Trump was not a hormonal teenage athlete, but rather a 60-year-old husband of an expectant mother and the father of four children. America’s locker rooms deserve better.

Some have said, “This election isn’t about the candidates, it’s about the issues.” I disagree. I believe that is a way to brush character flaws and inexperience under the rug. Choosing the candidates that God is justified in supporting is key to taking care of “the issues”.

My job as a father is to protect the home and the constitution is one of my greatest tools. I believe he would assist in destroying it. Do I believe he has a goal of intentionally destroying it? No, but I believe protecting it is a low priority of his, and he is ignorant of what the Constitution really is, or really any of the principles of self-government. I believe that he would aid in destroying it simply due to his lack of wisdom, not to mention his pride and ambition.

He has already demonstrated that he will not respect religious freedom, the very thing I consider to be the most pinnacle freedom.

I was “Never Trump” long before it became a hashtag. I am also “Never Hillary” and “Never Gary” and “Never” anyone else that defies the things God and I expect of a candidate. I consider most people who run for President subpar of what the free world needs, but I won’t settle for less.

In short, no. I did not vote for Trump. Don’t try to convince me that Hillary is way worse than I think she is and that this election determines the fate of the free world. Don’t try to convince me that Trump is a good option. That claim says a lot more about you than about Trump. I wouldn’t vote for Trump if he ran against Lucifer, because I don’t vote for people based on their opponents.

To continue, Click here to read Part 6 – The Election Process